Tobacco-press



Patented mm 10, 1919.

3 SPEETS-SHEET I 7% affouwn 6 S. B. MINNICH.

TOBACCO PRESS. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3. 1911.

Patented June 10, 1919.

S. B. MINNICH.

TOBACCO PRESS. APPLICATION FILED MAR- 3. 1912.

1,306,604. Patented June 10, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3. W3

MyW

m: l msms FEYERS co. wuorouma. WAsNINcrON, u c

UNITED STATES ATEN SIMON B. MINNICH, or LANDIsvILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 'ro MARY. o.

MINNICI-I, or LANDISVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

TOBACCO-PRESS.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SIMON B. MINNIcH, of Landisville, in the county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented. certain Improvements in Tobacco-Presses, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to tobacco presses for compressing tobacco into receptacles. It is desirable to pack the leaves end to end and where they vary in sizes boxes of different lengths are used.

My primary objects are to provide an eX- pansible plunger and means for centering the plunger with relation to boxes of dilferent sizes.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation, and

Fig. 2 an end view.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the plungers;

Figs. 1 and 5 sections on lines e11, 5-5, respectively, of Fig. 3.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are perspectives of the parts comprising the plunger. 7

Fig, 9 shows the means for centering the box relatively to the plunger.

Fig. 10 shows a. modified form of plunger, and Fig. 11 is a section on the line 11-11, Fig. 10.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown a press frame 1 having a cross-head 2- movable vertically in the frame and carrying a plunger 3. A weight 4 suspended from a rope passed over sheaves in the frameitends to hold the cross-head and plunger elevatedr In Fig. 1 a box is'indicated at 5and is shown in contact with a pair of side guides 6, preferably having rollers 6 vertically mounted thereon and slidably engaging the angle irons 7 at the ends of the press frame. These guides may be locked in position by the lock bolt 6. The plunger is drawn down by a pair of chains 8 connected to the cross-head and adapted to wind around a shaft 9 having a lever 10 and a ratchet l2 governed by a pawl 13. The pawl is shown formed with a pedal 14 by which the operator may readily release it from engagement with the ratchet.

My improved plunger, in the preferred form of embodiment, is illustrated in detail in Figs. 3 to 8. As shown it comprises central part or base 15 and end portions 16. Each of the end portions is provided with two or more bars 17 which are adapted to Specification of Letters Patent. P t t J 10, 1919 Application filed March 3, 1917.

Serial No. 152,309.

slide through suitable brackets 18 as the end portions are moved toward or fromeach other. As appropriate means for operating the plunger parts I have shown a lever 19 fulcrumed on one of the brackets as at 20; A rod 21 secured to one of the end pieces 16 is pivoted to the lever 19 at one side of the fulcrum 20 and a rod 22 is similarly attached to the other end portion and pivoted to the lever on the other side of the fulcrum 20. I A segment 23 is provided with perforations to receive a stud 24 on the lever 19. The spaces between these perforations maybe so graduated that moving the lever sufiiciently to place the stud into any one of the perforations will cause theendparts to be moved toward or from each other the desired distance 7 so that the entire length of the plunger will exactly correspond with that of the box within which it may be used. j

I prefer to construct the plunger as shown in Figs. 3 to 8. As illustrated, the main portion has its width reduced at its extremities as at 25. The adjustable end members 16-.are each made up of two parts and may have their corners cut. away. in orderthat-fthe plunger may descend into the box without coming into contact with the corner posts 5. One part, 26, is adapted to move heneath the ends 25. It has upright flanges 27 at. itssides to fit within the reduced ex tremities 25 and guide-blocks 28 on these flanges between which and'thefiooringthe part 25 is received. The" other member, 29 is of .L-shape. in cross section and is bolted to the part 26 as, at 30. This, insures; durable structuregnot. likely .to'beco'm'e distorted or deranged and permitting of ready adjustment. 5

In Fig. 9 I have shown the means for tentering the boX or receptacle so as to assure its being held in alinement with the vertical movement of the plunger-in Whatever. position the latter may be adjusted to. This viewsho-ws the guides 6 and guide rollers 6 and the lever 31 which is showninside elevation in Fig. 1. This lever -is mounted on a rocking 'shaft32, slidably and rotatably mounted in suitable bearings 34, and which carries 'a stop 33 adapted to be held in the proper position to arrest the movement of the box 5 of given dimensions so as to place it in direct alinement with the plunger. In the drawings I have shown how the stop 33 engages one corner of the box to limit its movement, the box entering the frame at the end of the frame opposite the stop 33. In a bracket 35 is shown a graduated plate 36 having a series of notches corresponding to the graduations. The shaft 32 is adapted to rock responsive to the movement of the lever 31 and the latter carries a flange 37 which is adapted to engage any one of the notches in the graduated plate. As illustrated the lever flange is in engagement with the notch appropriate for a box 39 inches long. If a larger box is to be used the lever is turned outward to re lease the flange from the notch in which it may be seated and it is'pushed inward to project the shaft 32 until the stop 33 shall have reached a more distant point. It will be understood that these graduations exactly correspond with those of the segments 23 so that correspondence between the point of location of stud 2-1 and flange 37 insures theplunger and the box being in correct alinement when the box is inserted over the roller 38. By merely rocking the lever 31 toward the center of the machine, the shaft 32 is rotated to swing the stop 33 clownwardly out of the path of the box, to permit removal of the box from the opposite end of the press from which it entered.

In Fig. 10 I have shown a slightly modified form of plunger. The plunger comprises two main elements 4:0 and a1 adapted to overlap and to: move in sliding engagement. They are suspended from the crosshead 2 by links 42 fulcrumed at each of their ends and connected by a rod 43 having threaded engagement with blocks tl secured in each of the links. This rod has a wheel 45 at its central portion and the threaded engagement of the rod with one series of links is a right thread and the other a left thread. By this means the operation of the wheel may lessen or extend the angle of disposition of the links and in consequence lessen or increase the extent of surface presented by the parts 40 and ll of the plunger.

I claim as my invention:

7 1. In a tobacco press, an expansible plunger adjustable to receptacles of various sizes, and an adjustable gage adapted to hold a receptacle in alinement with the path of travel of the plunger.

2. In a tobacco press, the combination with an expansible plunger, of means for holding a receptacle in alinement with said plunger comprising a shaft, means for supporting said shaft, a stop carried by said shaft, a graduated plate having notches, a lever on said shaft adapted to move the shaft longitudinally and having a flange to engage a predetermined one of said notches.

3. In a tobacco press frame, the combination with an expansible plunger, of adjustable means for holding the ends of a receptacle in alinement with said plunger, and

means extending the length of the frame at either side of said receptacle for guiding it into position.

4. In a. tobacco press, the combination with a plunger, of means for holding the ends of a receptacle in alinement with said plunger, adjustably mounted bars at either side of said receptacle, and rollers on said bars to form guides for the receptacle.

5. In a tobacco press, a frame, a plunger adjustable to receptacles of various sizes movable in said frame, a guideway for guiding receptacles into alinement beneath said plunger, and a gage adjustable to receptacles of various sizes for stopping said receptacles centrally beneath said plunger.

6. In a tobacco press, the combination with an expansible plunger, of means for holding a receptacle in alinement with said plunger comprising a shaft rotatably and slidably supported in the press frame, a stop carried by said shaft, and a lever on said shaft adapted to move the shaft longitudinally and to rotate said shaft.

7. In a tobacco press, a frame, a plunger movable in said frame, a guideway extending the length of said frame for bringing a receptacle beneath said plunger and adapted to receive receptacles atone end of said frame, a stop arm in said guideway for centering a receptacle beneath said plunger, and means for moving said stop arm out of the path of said receptacle to permit of the removal of said receptacle at the opposite end of said frame. 7

' 8. In a tobacco press, the combination with an expansible plunger, of adjustably mount ed side bars beneath said plunger for engaging a receptacle, and an adjustable stop for limiting the longitudinal movement of re- 105 ceptacles between said side bars.

9. In a tobacco press, a plunger comprising a body plate, end plates slidable toward and from each other upon the body plate to extend and contract the plunger and pro- 110 vide a substantiallyflat solid pressing -s11rface, a lever fulcrumed upon the upper side of the body plate, link connections between the lever and end plates for adjusting the latter, and means carried by said lever for 115 looking it in adjusted position.

10. In a tobacco press, a frame, a guide way in said frame adapted to receive receptacles of varying sizes, a cross-head movable in said frame, substantially vertical sup- 120 ports depending from said cross-head, and a plunger secured to said vertical supports adapted to be projected into the receptacles of varying sizes.

11. In a tobacco press, a frame, a cross- 125 head movable in said frame, vertical supports depending from said cross-head, and a plunger adapted to beprojected into receptacles of varying sizes comprising a main pressing plate permanently secured to said 130 supports and adjustable end plates carried by said main pressing plate.

12. In a tobacco press, a frame, a crosshead movable vertically in said frame, vertical supports carried by said cross-head, a plunger adapted to be projected into receptacles of varying sizes carried by said vertical supports, and means within the area of said plunger for adjusting the plunger.

13. In a tobacco press, a frame, a guide way for said frame adapted to receive receptacles of varying sizes, and a plunger movably supported in said frame adapted to be projected into the receptacles.

14. In a tobacco press, a frame, a crosshead movable in said frame, vertical supports carried by said cross-head, an ex pansible plunger secured to said vertical supports adapted to be projected into receptacles of varying sizes and having a substantially flat and solid pressing surface, and a guide way in said frame beneath said plunger adapted to receive receptacles of varying sizes.

15. In a tobacco ress, a frame, a crosshead movable in said frame, an expansible and contractile plunger adapted to be pro jected into receptacles of varying sizes comprising relatively slidable pressure plates, supports connecting said pressure plates with said cross-head, means mounted on the plunger and connecting the plates for effecting their relative sliding movements, and a guide-way in said frame beneath the plunger for receiving receptacles of varying sizes.

16. An adjustable plunger for presses, comprising a main pressing plate, end plates slidably supported on said main plate, guide bars on the end plates projecting over one surface of the main plate, guide-ways on said main plate for said guide bars, and means within the area of the plunger for mloving said end plates relatively to the main p ate.

17. In a tobacco press, an expansible and contractile plunger adjustable to receptacles of varying sizes, and means for re- -ceiving receptacles ofvarying sizes centrally beneath said plunger.

18. In a tobacco press, a frame, a crosshead movable in said frame, supports depending from said cross-head, an expansible plunger carried by said supports and adapted to be extended to substantially the inside area of the bottoms of the receptacles of varying sizes whereby the plunger may be projectedinto receptacles of varying sizes,

means mounted on said plunger and within the area thereof for expanding the plunger, means in said frame for receiving receptacles of varying sizes beneath the plunger,

SIMON B. MINNICH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, .D. G. i 

